Cooperation: Toyota, Hino, and Isuzu Push Forward E-Truck Development

The Toyota Motor Corporation has announced that it will intensify its collaboration with Isuzu Motors and Hino Motors. The declared aim is to accelerate networking, automation, and electrification in the commercial vehicle sector, thereby also improving safety. To this end, the three companies are founding the joint venture Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Corporation. According to the announcement, this venture is also open to cooperation with other like-minded partners.

In their joint venture, the partners aim to combine Isuzu's and Hino's expertise in commercial vehicles with Toyota's experience in electrified drives. They plan to jointly develop, among other things, fuel cell and purely electric vehicles. The cooperation is said to reduce vehicle costs and promote their acceptance. In addition to expanding infrastructure, demonstrations and field trials are planned, for example with fuel cell trucks in the Japanese prefecture of Fukushima, to raise awareness of these technologies in society.

Collaboration in Automation

The partners are also working together on automated driving technologies and electronic platforms, particularly in the small commercial vehicle segment. Additionally, Isuzu, Hino, and Toyota plan to link their existing connected technology platforms to create a common forum for commercial vehicles, which can help solve customer problems. Through this common platform, they aim to offer various logistics solutions that not only improve transport efficiency but also minimize CO2 emissions. Moreover, intelligent technology and smart services will address issues such as driver shortages, long working hours, and other industry challenges.

To establish and advance their collaboration, Isuzu and Toyota have also agreed on a capital partnership. Both companies will acquire shares in each other. Toyota will purchase 39 million common shares with a total value of approximately 332.9 million euros, which, as of the end of September, corresponds to a share of 4.6 percent.